Transparent Leadership

The metamorphosis of Aaron and his sons into priests was a process wholly transparent to the nation.

An International Problem

Entrenched, pervasive corruption has emerged as one of the most serious impediments to progress in the world’s poorest regions. Citing Somalia, Burma, Afghanistan, Haiti, and Sudan among the countries globally perceived as the world’s most corrupt, Transparency International highlights “the fatal link between poverty, failed institutions, and graft.” The organization warns that the persistence of corruption in these countries “amount[s] to an ongoing humanitarian disaster” that affects nearly all aspects of life in these societies.

Today, there are brave individuals around the world who, in their own varied ways, daily reenact Parashat Tzav’s investiture ritual by standing up to corruption. To read their stories, visit Transparency International’s listing of its annual Integrity Awards.

Nearly all of these amazing people have put themselves in grave physical danger for their efforts. Their struggles lend hope that the priestly investiture’s emphasis on transparency and accountability will take root in their own communities and throughout the world.

Rachel Farbiarz is a graduate of Harvard College and Yale Law. Rachel worked as a clerk for the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, after which she practiced law focusing on the civil rights and humane treatment of prisoners.